Monthly Archives: April 2016

The technology in our newest trucks brings benefits everyone can see and hear. Automatically, the trucks engine will shut off, letting a battery power the boom and bucket. This means the engine isn’t burning fuel or creating emissions, and it is much quieter.

“The battery-powered boom makes it easier to hear and communicate with your coworkers as you work.” said Brad Hoeper, a Monroe line mechanic. “It’s safer for us, plus it’s quieter when we’re working in neighborhoods. It’s less of a disturbance, especially at night.”

Battery technology has evolved significantly in recent years. Those advancements mean the crews can use the battery powered boom an entire day before needing to recharge. The truck is duel fuel so in an emergency, if the battery is not charged, the truck’s engine can still power the system.

“This equipment also helps keep the truck’s cab warm in the winter and cool in the summer, without having to run the engine,” said Greg Genin, senior manager of fleet services. “By using the hybrid system to run both the boom and maintain cab temperature, it significantly reduces the truck idle time, which has a favorable impact on the environment.”

Over the next several years, we will be adding more of these special hybrid bucket trucks in Wisconsin. It’s one of the many ways we can make a positive impact on the environment.

Like this:

Posted onApril 4, 2016|Comments Off on Thinking of driving an electric vehicle?

Alliant Energy offers a new electric vehicle home charger rebate program and free public charging at its Madison, Wis. office.

To support EV adoption in our service area, we will offer up to a $500 rebate for our residential customers who own or lease an electric vehicle and install a faster, Level 2 home charging station.

A Level 2 charger uses 240 volts (similar to the larger outlets that typically power electric dryers) and charges the car in roughly half the time of a Level 1 charger.

The new program is meant to encourage customers to choose electric vehicles by making home charging times faster.

Beginning May 1, we are also offering free electric vehicle charging through the end of the year at our Madison office. We’ve installed five Level 2 charging stations that are open to the public.

These charging stations are part of our participation in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Workplace Charging Challenge for companies that encourage EV adoption by employees. We have installed eight more Level 2 charging stations for employees, and are considering adding EV charging stations at more company locations.

The charging stations are one component of an innovative energy education and research initiative that also includes a variety of solar components and battery energy storage technology installed at our Madison office.

Electric vehicles (hybrid or all battery) have several strengths. EVs are:

Cleaner than gasoline-fueled vehicles because they produce fewer emissions

Cheaper to drive and operate because they can charge their batteries at a cost of about $1.25/gallon equivalent

The EV industry has also matured to address many of consumers’ initial concerns, including driving range, cold climate battery performance, driving experience and price.

We generate electricity from a mix of fuels, including natural gas, nuclear power, coal, wind, solar, hydro and biogas. We are taking a thoughtful approach to moving toward a cleaner fuel mix, with a greater reliance on natural gas, wind and solar power while considering cost impacts to customers.

The new rebate program is limited to 500 participants over the next 12 months.